Tufan episode an achilles heel for govt: NHRC chair

The chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said a culture of impunity in the country is now encouraging the criminals to commit more acts of crimes.

At an exchange of views meeting in Bogra on Sunday, the NHRC chief, Kazi Reazul Hoque, urged the judges to play responsible role in delivering justice in cases of repressession of women and children.

Speaking on the recent case of rape of a girl and and torture on her mother, he said the incident is an “achilles heel” for the government.

A leader of ruling Awami League’s workers wing, Sramik League, Tufan Sarkar, allegedly raped and tortured a girl and also insulted her mother in Bogra. Tufan, his accomplices and a few family members were arrested in connection with the incident.

“Tufan’s activities have damaged Bangladesh’s image internationally at a time when the country was being projected as a role model of development,” said Reazul Hoque, who assumed office only recently after retirement of Mizanur Rahman.

He urged all concerned to work together to ensure proper trial of those involved in incidents of rape and torture on the womenfolk, including the ones in Bogra.

The NHRC chief mentioned that as high as 88 per cent accused of cases relating to repression of women and 95 per cent accused in rape cases are eventually acquitted by the court due to absence of or deficiency in proofs.

The NHRC, with assistance from the UNDP’s Human Rights Programme, organised the meeting on ‘Violence against Women, Our Responsibilities’ at the deputy commissioner’s office, in Bogra town.